END OF OVER:66 | 5 Runs | AUS: 271/4
- Travis Head142 (196b)
- Alex Carey52 (91b)
- Will Jacks19-0-107-1
- Josh Tongue14-0-59-2
5.32pm Travis Head salutes the crowd as he marches off the field. His fourth consecutive Test hundred on his home ground, and one of his most ruthless yet. Fewer blazing strokes than in Perth, just superb situational awareness and a relentless hunger for runs. England fought hard, in patches, particularly with the bat in the morning, and with the ball through the afternoon, but the gulf in quality was all too apparent by the close. Will Jacks toiled but has been manifestly outclassed by Nathan Lyon as a spinner, and though Archer was economical, he couldn't break through after his valiant display with the bat. Tongue was the pick of the seamers, and his dismissal of Green was the high point of England's challenge. Brook's drop of Head on 99 was arguably the low. And with Ben Stokes unavailable to bowl, the burden was too great for the remaining seamers.
Australia look hungry for plenty more runs yet. Maybe a mid-afternoon declaration, with a 500 lead on the board, and a realistic chance for Carey to land his second century of the Test. This game might dribble into day five if England find some resistance, but don't rule out a rapid denouement tomorrow. It's been a chastening day for Stokes and his men. From Miller, Gnasher, Thilak and the team, good night!
Short leg now
